The Ross Island Meteorology Experiment

The Ross Island Meteorology ExperimentThe Ross Island Meteorology Experiment(RIME): An International Collaborative (RIME): An International Collaborative

Investigation of Antarctic Meteorology and Investigation of Antarctic Meteorology and ClimateClimate

David BromwichPolar Meteorology Group

Byrd Polar Research CenterByrd Polar Research CenterThe Ohio State UniversityThe Ohio State University

Columbus, OhioColumbus, Ohio

Why Now?...Why Now?...

•We have good knowledge of the basic aspects of many processes, but detailed understanding is lacking. This is required for understanding the role of Antarctica in the global climate system, for example via sensitivity studies with global climate models. One needs to get the cloud-radiation interactions correct for this.

•Also logistical activities in USAP are increasingly relying on numerical weather forecasts to allow expansion to year-round operations. E.g., rescue of Dr. Shemenski from South Pole in April 2001 and the collection of personnel from McMurdo around the same time.

•Antarctica is unique in that it represents the cold, dry, and pristine limits to the troposphere

•The study area is representative of the processes that take place in all parts of Antarctica.

•This area is where strong interactions with the global climate system take place.

•Ease of collaboration with Italy, France, and New Zealand

•Logistics available for a field program.

•Timescales will be decided by the dominant atmospheric circulation modes.

MotivationMotivation

•Need regional focus to help to study processes and for forecasting purposes. This allows the collaboration with our friends from Italy and France. Aircraft, regional AWS, satellite products, wind profilers, enhanced upper air program, etc. are needed.

•Need a local focus. Parameterization testing and development. Primarily must be concentrated in a limited area to get enough equipment in place. Also can do testing and development of satellite products that are required for the process-based studies and forecasting purposes. Ground-based equipment, aircraft measurements, plus???.

Approach:Approach:

Some Examples:

Teleconnections with middle and low latitudesTeleconnections with middle and low latitudes

El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) impactsEl Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) impacts

Hemispheric mass exchangeHemispheric mass exchange

Climate InteractionsClimate Interactions

Teleconnections

MAM 1997(El Nino)

MAM 1999(La Nina)

Key Points:•Warmer than normal temperatures over West Antarctica during El Nino •Cooler than normal temperatures over West Antarctica during La Nina•Marked Differences and very tight gradients •Dipole observed

ENSO ImpactsPolar MM5 Potential Temperature Anomaly (oK)

Surface Pressure Changes

-30

-20

-10

0

10

-90 -75 -60 -45 -30 -15 0

latitude

dp (

hPa)

JUNE 29

JUNE 30

JULY 01JULY 02

Figure 5. Zonally-averaged surface pressure differences from 00UTC 28June 1988.

Hemispheric Mass Exchange

Some Examples:Katabatic WindsKatabatic Winds

Mesoscale CyclogenesisMesoscale Cyclogenesis

Barrier WindsBarrier Winds

Process-Based StudiesProcess-Based Studies

Katabatic Katabatic WindsWinds

Katabatic wind surge Katabatic wind surge blowing across the blowing across the

Ross Ice ShelfRoss Ice Shelf..McMurdo Station, Ross Island

Katabatic WindsKatabatic Winds

Mesoscale CyclonesMesoscale Cyclones

Barrier WindsBarrier Winds

Cloud-Radiation InteractionCloud-Radiation Interaction

Planetary Boundary Layer ParameterizationPlanetary Boundary Layer Parameterization

Moist ProcessesMoist Processes

Modeling ResearchModeling Research

Parameterization ImprovementsParameterization Improvements

Forecast ImprovementsForecast Improvements

Effective Assimilation of Conventional and Novel Data Sources Effective Assimilation of Conventional and Novel Data Sources (e.g., AWS, Satellite Imagery, GPS/Met. Data, etc…)(e.g., AWS, Satellite Imagery, GPS/Met. Data, etc…)

Forecast Sensitivity Studies/Adjoint ModelingForecast Sensitivity Studies/Adjoint Modeling

Cloud-Radiation InteractionCloud-Radiation Interaction

PBL ParameterizationPBL Parameterization

•Pre-RIME (June 2003-June 2005)Pre-RIME (June 2003-June 2005)

•RIME Phase I (Field Study; December 2005-March 2006)RIME Phase I (Field Study; December 2005-March 2006)

•RIME Analysis Phase (March 2006-September 2007)RIME Analysis Phase (March 2006-September 2007)

•RIME Phase II (Field Study; September-December 2007)RIME Phase II (Field Study; September-December 2007)

•RIME Final Analysis Phase (January 2008-June 2010)RIME Final Analysis Phase (January 2008-June 2010)

RIME Activities and TimelinesRIME Activities and Timelines

•AWS DeploymentAWS Deployment

•Early Instrument DevelopmentEarly Instrument Development

•Satellite Algorithm DevelopmentSatellite Algorithm Development

•Model Evaluation and ValidationModel Evaluation and Validation

•Model Initialization/Data IngestionModel Initialization/Data Ingestion

Pre-RIME ActivitiesPre-RIME Activities

•Surface energy budgetSurface energy budget

•Vertical structure of the atmosphereVertical structure of the atmosphere

•Radiation, cloud microphysics studiesRadiation, cloud microphysics studies

•Regional airborne observingRegional airborne observing

•Local airborne observingLocal airborne observing

•Satellite productsSatellite products

•ModelingModeling

RIME ActivitiesRIME Activities

HIAPER: An exciting opportunity for studies of HIAPER: An exciting opportunity for studies of Antarctic Meteorology and Climatology :Antarctic Meteorology and Climatology :

•Can operate out of New Zealand and does not have to land in Can operate out of New Zealand and does not have to land in AntarcticaAntarctica

•Can fly at high and/or low altitudesCan fly at high and/or low altitudes

•Available by 2Available by 2ndnd field season (Sep-Dec 2007) field season (Sep-Dec 2007)

•Will have an advanced suite of atmospheric measuring Will have an advanced suite of atmospheric measuring capabilities, such as for cloud microphysics, radiation, and capabilities, such as for cloud microphysics, radiation, and turbulence measurementsturbulence measurements

•Can be used to study the interactions between Antarctica and Can be used to study the interactions between Antarctica and lower latitudes as well as conducting process-oriented lower latitudes as well as conducting process-oriented investigationsinvestigations

•Maximum RangeMaximum Range 12,046 km12,046 km•Maximum PayloadMaximum Payload 2,948 kg2,948 kg•Payload with Maximum FuelPayload with Maximum Fuel 726 kg726 kg•Maximum Cruise AltitudeMaximum Cruise Altitude 15.5 km15.5 km•Cabin LengthCabin Length 15.3 m15.3 m•Cabin WidthCabin Width 2.2 m2.2 m•Cabin HeightCabin Height 1.9 m1.9 m

NCARNCARHIAPERHIAPERGulfstream VGulfstream V